In this heartfelt episode of the Pet Groomer Community Podcast, Lexi is joined by fellow groomer Penny Burley for an honest conversation about burnout, bravery, and building a new life through dog grooming. Penny shares how she left a long career in emotionally demanding public sector roles after reaching rock bottom, and how retraining as a dog groomer gave her the fresh start she desperately needed.

Together, Lexi and Penny talk about what it really feels like to change careers later in life, open a salon from scratch, and step away from the safety of a regular salary. Penny opens up about the fears, financial pressure, and mindset challenges she faced in those early months, as well as how mentoring, coaching, and community support helped her grow both personally and professionally.

This episode goes far beyond business. Lexi and Penny dive into self-worth, people-pleasing, money shame, journaling, burnout prevention, and learning to create a business that works for your life, not the other way round. They also share some of the books, tools and mindset shifts that have helped them feel more confident, more in control, and more deserving of success.

It’s an inspiring listen for any groomer who has ever doubted themselves, struggled with pricing, felt trapped in the wrong career, or wondered whether a better way of living and working is really possible.

If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepetgroomercommunitypodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please make sure you subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review to help others find our podcast.

As always, we are grateful to our show sponsor, Pet Passion To Profit. A business coaching company for pet groomers. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.petpassiontoprofit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Lexi and Jo are back with a big life and business catch-up in this episode of the Pet Groomer Community Podcast. Lexi shares the exciting news that she’s taking the leap from home grooming into a new salon space, opening up fresh opportunities for table renters, training, and future business growth.

Jo talks through the realities of running and expanding a salon, building a supportive team, and creating opportunities for other groomers — while also sharing the exciting news of her Business Leader award nomination.

There’s plenty of honest chat about growth, confidence, business decisions, pricing, training, and what it really looks like to build a grooming career that works for your life. Plus, there’s a lovely surprise appearance from Bex, making this a special catch-up episode full of encouragement and exciting next steps.

If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepetgroomercommunitypodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please make sure you subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review to help others find our podcast.

As always, we are grateful to our show sponsor, Pet Passion To Profit. A business coaching company for pet groomers. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.petpassiontoprofit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of The Pet Groomers Community Podcast, Jo Wallace sits down with award-winning groomers Jordan Fletcher of Diamonds in the Rough Pet Spa and Jo Tofts of Happy Hounds Dog Spa to talk all things grooming competitions.

If you’ve ever considered entering a competition but felt intimidated, this conversation offers an honest and refreshing look at what it’s really like. The girls share how they got started, what the different classes actually mean, and how the journey from beginner to Open level really feels. They talk openly about the nerves, the pressure, the mistakes, and the moments where things don’t go to plan, including everything from forgotten tails to competition-day disasters.

They also explore the difference between show ring grooming and competition grooming, explaining why precision, finish and presentation matter so much in the competition ring, and how learning structure and conformation can completely change the way you approach a groom. For those wondering whether you need your own dog to compete, they share practical insight into coat maintenance, prep work and the realities of balancing pet clients with competition ambitions.

Beyond the rosettes, this episode highlights something even more important: community. Both Jordan and Jo speak passionately about how competing helped them build friendships, develop confidence, and grow not just as groomers but as professionals. The message throughout is clear: competing isn’t just about winning. It’s about learning, pushing yourself, finding your style, and surrounding yourself with people who raise your standards.

There’s also plenty of laughter along the way, touching on pricing, salon life, show schedules, exotic animals, and a few stories that perfectly capture the chaos and camaraderie of the grooming world.

If you’re thinking about stepping into the competition ring, their advice is simple: just go for it.

If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepetgroomercommunitypodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please make sure you subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review to help others find our podcast.

As always, we are grateful to our show sponsor, Pet Passion To Profit. A business coaching company for pet groomers. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.petpassiontoprofit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week on The Pet Groomer Community Podcast, Lexi is joined by Emma Betts who is a former veterinary nurse, long-time salon owner, and now coach inside Bill Betts’ Pet Groomer Business Programme.

Emma shares how her veterinary background shapes her approach to grooming, from understanding oral health and skin conditions to knowing when something needs monitoring versus a vet referral. They chat about teeth cleaning, practical product knowledge, retail opportunities, and how groomers can confidently support clients without overstepping professional boundaries.

The conversation also dives into the realities of running a salon, including employment, HR responsibilities, contracts, and the importance of having the right support in place. Emma speaks honestly about the physical toll of grooming, the challenges of employing staff, and why being a professional business owner means knowing when to delegate.

There’s plenty of reassurance for solo groomers too, from overcoming perfectionism to building confidence in your work. Plus a refreshing reminder that we don’t have to figure everything out alone.

If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepetgroomercommunitypodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please make sure you subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review to help others find our podcast.

As always, we are grateful to our show sponsor, Pet Passion To Profit. A business coaching company for pet groomers. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.petpassiontoprofit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of The Pet Groomers Community Podcast, host Jo Wallace is joined by fellow Colin Taylor Brand Ambassadors Rebecca Duduid and Charlotte Pulling for an open, honest conversation about grooming competitions, teaching, and the power of community within the industry .

Rebecca and Charlotte share their personal journeys into competing, why they wish they’d started sooner, how competitions have helped build confidence, and what it’s really like stepping into the ring for the first time. The conversation also dives into tutoring and education, including their experiences teaching IPET qualifications, the benefits of one-to-one training, and preparing students for the realities of working in a busy salon environment .

Together, they discuss:

• Practical advice for groomers considering competitions

• Different competition classes and what to expect

• Managing nerves, imposter syndrome, and expectations

• The importance of feedback, experience, and enjoying the process

• How competitions, seminars, and workshops help combat isolation in a largely solo industry

  If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepetgroomercommunitypodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Please make sure you subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review to help others find our podcast.

  As always, we are grateful to our show sponsor, Pet Passion To Profit. A business coaching company for pet groomers. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.petpassiontoprofit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Cat grooming has a reputation… and Lexie Goldsmith is here to set the record straight.

Jo Wallace is joined by Aussie cat groomer and educator Lexie Goldsmith to talk about what really makes cat grooming successful: understanding stress signals, adapting your approach to the individual cat, and building trust without over-handling. Lexie shares her journey from dog grooming into the cat world, why cats aren’t the “huge challenge” people assume, and how good training helps you spot problems before they become emergencies.

They dive into the big topics cat groomers need to know—when to refer to a vet, what to look out for in senior cats, how pain (especially arthritis) can show up as “spicy” behaviour, and why a gentle bath and blow-dry can sometimes be kinder than shaving. Plus: licky treats, LickiMats, Feliway, owner-assisted first grooms, and the truth about deshedding being one of the most satisfying parts of the job.

Lexie also introduces her new cat grooming education programme—created to raise standards, increase access to trained cat groomers, and reduce the need for sedated grooms at the vet.

Find Lexie's Courses here

Read Lexie's blog here.

If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepetgroomercommunitypodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please make sure you subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review to help others find our podcast.

As always, we are grateful to our show sponsor, Pet Passion To Profit. A business coaching company for pet groomers. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.petpassiontoprofit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week on The Pet Groomer Community Podcast, Lexi and Jo are joined by Caroline Donoghue aka the Love Mud Dog Lady for a behind-the-scenes chat about pet grooming, social media, and staying true to your lane.

Caroline is an award-winning, experienced dog groomer who runs Lovemud Dog Grooming in East Sussex. With 10 years’ experience, she’s proud to offer a unique 1:1 tailored grooming service that focuses on canine behaviour and welfare — prioritising happy, comfortable dogs over chasing “perfect” finishes.

Caroline also educates new groomers and dog owners through her social media platforms, where she has a 600k-strong following across channels. She’s known for streaming grooms live on TikTok 3–4 days per week, with viewers tuning in from all over the world to learn, laugh, and pick up practical grooming tips.

Find out More about Caroline ⁠here.⁠

In this episode, Caroline shares how she built her online community (including dealing with criticism and the dreaded “Sandras”), why she believes there’s room for everyone in the industry, and how she balances grooming with content creation and life behind the scenes. We also chat pricing, knowing your strengths, and why education should be welcoming — not shaming.

If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepetgroomercommunitypodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please make sure you subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review to help others find our podcast.

As always, we are grateful to our show sponsor, Pet Passion To Profit. A business coaching company for pet groomers. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.petpassiontoprofit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Lexi is joined by Hayley, a groomer of nearly 16 years with a veterinary nursing background, to talk about building a salon that supports real life — fewer hours, fewer dogs, and better income. Hayley shares how she’s streamlined her workweek, improved pricing, and boosted turnover by introducing ultrasonic teeth cleaning as a popular add-on, while also educating owners on why oral health matters far beyond fresh breath.

The conversation also takes a heartfelt turn as they bond over resilience, single motherhood, and how tough life chapters can shape a stronger mindset and a more determined approach to business. Hayley reveals her exciting next step: launching “Confident Canine Oral Hygiene,” a business-in-a-box kit designed to help groomers add teeth cleaning properly, with training, marketing materials, and ongoing support. It’s a motivating episode about health-led grooming, smarter business choices, and creating freedom without burning out.

Join the waitlist here.

If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepetgroomercommunitypodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please make sure you subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review to help others find our podcast.

As always, we are grateful to our show sponsor, Pet Passion To Profit. A business coaching company for pet groomers. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.petpassiontoprofit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠